Cecil C. Konijnendijk

A decade of urban forestry in Europe

Abstract Major changes in society have led to a call for structural changes in forestry, also in Europe. Urbanisation as one of the major driving forces has had a clear impact on European forestry. One of the new approaches emerging in response is the concept of urban forestry. It was developed in North America during the 1960s as innovative approach to managing natural resources in urban environments. Aimed at the integrated planning and management of all tree-based resources in cities and towns, the concept found broad support in North America after initial resistance from both foresters and urban green professionals. Similar resistance was met in Europe, and here it took until the early 1990s before the concept of urban forestry found broader acceptance and support. Since then, a European urban forestry research community has emerged, as have policies, programmes and higher education incorporating elements of urban forestry. Urban forest resources in Europe might be small in relative terms compared to other natural resources. They do, however, cover millions of hectares of land and provide multiple, highly demanded goods and services. Forestry can benefit from urban forestry experiences and innovations, for example in terms of better meeting the expectations and demands of urban society. Urban forestry, on the other hand, is firmly rooted in some of the basic concepts of traditional forestry, such as sustained yield. Review of a decade of urban forestry in Europe shows that strong links should be maintained for the benefit of both.

Adapting forestry to urban demands — role of communication in urban forestry in Europe

Abstract Similar to other parts of the world, European society is becoming increasingly urban, both in a physical as in an economic and socio-cultural sense. As a result, the relationships between society and nature, including forests, are changing, and forestry as structural intervention in forest ecosystems has had to adapt itself to changing societal pressures and demands. The planning and managing of woodlands in and near urban areas has been the most directly affected by the urbanisation process. Many European countries have a long tradition of ‘town forestry’, serving as basis for current developments in urban forestry, i.e. the planning and management of all forest and tree resources in and near urban areas for the benefit of local society. Through the adaptation to the specific demands of local urban societies, a type of forestry has emerged which is structurally different from classic forestry. It focuses, for example, on the social and environmental values of urban woodlands rather than on wood production and emphasising the importance of communication — ranging from information to participation/power sharing — between stakeholders. This paper investigates ways to communicate urban forests and forestry to urban inhabitants and other stakeholders, based on results of a comparative study of main European cities. It explores the role which urban forestry has been playing in the development of forestry at large, especially with regards to better incorporating changing social values and interests.

The Concept of Urban Forestry in Europe

This book provides a comprehensive perspective on the status of urban forestry with a primary focus on Europe. Before addressing various aspects of urban forestry, the applied terminology and definitions should be discussed. This is especially of relevance as the concepts of urban forests and urban forestry are relatively new and subjects of ongoing debate. The chapter examines the concept of urban forestry from three related aspects. It starts with a general introduction about the use of concepts, definitions and terms in natural resource management and forestry. It then briefly summarizes the development of the urban forestry concept, as well as its definition in a North American context. Next, the implementation and use of the concept in Europe is discussed. As the concept and definition of urban forestry still evoke debate, especially regarding their delimitation from other related terms, the chapter ends with proposing a possible framework for a European definition of urban forestry.

Forests, Trees and Human Health and Well-being: Introduction

Traditional medical and public health approaches to illness and health are among the successes of modern science. However, society today is faced with the increasing incidence of various forms of poor health related to modern lifestyles. Contributing factors include an increasingly sedentary population, increasing levels of psychological stress related to urban living and contemporary work practices. In addition people with disabilities and chronic illness demand a transition from institutional care to care in society. These problems encourage thinking about alternative ways to prevent disease and promote health. Lack of physical activity and stress have led to increased occurrence of certain diseases where medication is perhaps only reducing the symptoms rather than combating the true cases of illness and reduced quality of life. Efforts to promote public health and well-being in Europe have thus become increasingly complex.

Urban Forestry in Europe

Forest or woodland ecosystems in urban environments are of increasing,particularly social and environmental importance in Europe’s urbanising society. Traditionally,however, forestry science and practice have focused on rural settings. Only recendy have comparative and international studies been initiated on the role of urban forests or woodlands and other urban greens, their use, management and planning.This article presents the main results of a study carried out by the European Forest Institute between 1995 and 1999 on woodland policies, planning and management in selected major European cities. Because the objectives and conditions affecting the management of woodlands in an urban environment differ from those in rural areas, the approaches and techniques developed for rural areas have to be adapted. Some general characteristics and challenges of urban woodland planning and management in Europe are described. These include the wide range of uses and pressures urban foresters have to deal with. By developing innovative woodland planning and management to balance urban demands and woodland resources in high-pressure environments, urban forestry’s experiences may assist forestry at large in better adapting to a changing and urbanising society.

Research on Urban Forests and Trees in Europe

Urban forestry is an emerging and still developing subject field, not only in North America where it is believed to have its roots (see Chap. 1), but also in Europe. The concept of urban forestry as encompassing the planning, design, establishment and management of trees and forest stands with amenity value situated in or near urban areas, has become more widely accepted (Randrup and Nilsson 1998). This notion is in line with many North American urban forestry approaches (e.g., Miller 1997; Helms 1998). Urban forestry is a new research field. Traditionally, studies on urban forests, including woodland, parks and trees seem to concern applied, small-scale research at the local (municipal) level (e.g., Hodge 1991; Konijnendijk 1999). This local focus for research, coupled with – until recently – a lack of suitable networks and institutions to facilitate coordination, means there is a high risk of duplication of effort. Now, when there is a mutual exchange of experiences and findings and subsequent joint efforts are undertaken, the efficiency and effectiveness of urban forestry research is expected to be improved. A second motive for improving urban forestry coordination in Europe results from the multidisciplinary character of the new research field. It involves a range of disciplines including horticulture, landscape architecture, urban planning, landscape ecology, social sciences, and forestry. The different perspectives and approaches can be an asset, as long as they are carefully coordinated under the common denominator of urban forestry.